Parenting Australia

Bullying Goes Online

But bullying 20-30 years ago is a whole different animal to what bullying has become today. When I was at school I could escape the girls bullying me by going home and curling up on my bed, but those who are bullied today can often never escape the cruel taunts and actions. Our connected society has made bullying a 24-hours-a-day, seven-days-a-week occurrence.

Mobile phones, social media like MySpace and Facebook, MSN Messenger, online forums and email are tools that have been added to a bully’s amoury in the 21^st century. It is not uncommon to hear about a bullied children being attacked verbally and physically at school, by text throughout the day and via MySpace and Messenger at night. And these technologies make it possible to broadcast bullying messages to more than one person, so a whole cast of bullies can gang up on one, taunting them by every available means. There is often no escape and no relief from cyberbullying.

A report commissioned by Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) last year found one per cent of 8-9 year olds experienced cyberbullying, but that figure grew with age to 19 per cent of 16-17 year olds. Clearly, these figures show cyberbullying is becoming more prevalent.

While conducted in a different arena to bullying in person, cyberbullying has the same crippling effects. Being bullied lowers the victim’s self-esteem, makes them feel they are on their own, as well feeling angry, sad and scared. While it is clear someone with a black eye or a ripped shirt pocket has been physically attacked, it is not so easy to see the wounds from cyberbullying, but they can be just as painful.

So what can be done? In all cases of bullying it is important to tell someone what is happening, like a parent, teacher or friend. When it comes to cyberbullying keep a record of the messages, block messages received from certain people and ignore them, don’t reply. If it gets serious change contact information and contact police.

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Johanna Baker-Dowdell is mum to two boys – Noah and Ethan – and combines looking after them with her work as a blogger, journalist, writer and public relations consultant. She owns and manages Strawberry Communications which started small in the third bedroom, but has grown into its own office space (in the converted garage).

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